Chapter 4: Rattoo, the blood sucking bat.
Cool breezes were taking with it, the leaves along with dust of the garden of Michiko's old, mediocre, desolate house.
"How does she manage to live in such a desolate house, with no friends and no neighbours?" Tamao wondered, as he opened the gate that creaked in a way that made him a bit afraid.
Tamao walked through the garden, quivering with cold breeze that was brushing against his cheeks. He was wrapped in a long brown coat and a white muffler that clinged to his neck because of the air acting in opposition.
Michiko had just finished making cookies and was swinging on the swing, when she saw Tamao walking through the garden. She got up from the swing and welcomed him into her house. It was clean from inside, though it looked filthy and dirt covered from outside.
Tamao was about to sit on the coach, when Michiko interrupted,
"It is cold here, go and sit comfortably on the bed in the bedroom inside and I will bring the cookies."
"Yeah, sure."
Tamao went inside the bedroom, and looked around thinking how neat and tidily was everything kept at its place. Michiko entered with the plate of cookies in her hands. She went near him and sat face to face with him, on the bed, with the plate in between them. Tamao took a cookie and looked at her.
Michiko was sitting. Still. Motionless.
"Michiko?"
She didn't move even an inch.
"Michiko" Tamao shook her gently.
Michiko shook her head and came back to the reality.
Tamao pushed the plate aside and rested his hands over her shoulders.
"Tell me, Michiko what is the matter? I have been observing your daily struggle... Do you have any problems with your feelings?"
Michiko shook her head and looked down, trying to avoid eye contact with Tamao.
Tamao lifted her face up gently, by placing his fingers beneath her chin. Michiko's eyes directly met Tamao's. Her eyes started to fill with tears.
"Tamao, I don't know what is happening to me. I feel there's chemical turmoil going on my head. I feel I have lost my control over feelings."
"Since when has it been happening?"
"About ... five months."
"Don't worry, Michiko. Everything will get ok. What else do you feel?"
"Rattoo doesn't let me sleep."
"Who is Rattoo?"
"Rattoo, the blood sucking bat."
Tamao arched his eyebrows in doubt and said,
"Such things can never exist in our country, Michie. The climate here is not suitable for such creatures."
"No, Tamao, Rattoo will come today also." Michiko's breathing started to increase and she became restless.
"Ok, ok. Relax, Michie." Tamao held her hands. Suddenly his eyes caught a glimpse of a scar on her fair hand.
"What is this scar, Michie?"
"Rattoo. Did it..." Michiko began to sob.
Tamao was left thinking how can a blood sucking bat reside in their country and out of curiosity he decided to stay with her that night. He took permission from his parents and told Michiko that he would stay with her that night.
Michiko cooked dinner for both of them and the whole time, Tamao was trying hard to change her mood and make her come back from depression. Michiko was facing extreme mood swings that night. Till the sun set she was gloomy. After the sun set there was a drastic change in her mood.
Just after she took the dried clothes to keep the cupboard and before she could even open the cupboard she felt a strong throbbing in her head.
She screamed and Tamao rushed towards her. She was standing there in front of the cupboard, holding her head. The clothes were all scattered on the floor. Tamao held her in his arms and placed her on the bed. Her hair was all messed up, with thick strands of hair protruding out of the messy bun.
She winced in pain and said sobbing and breathing heavily,
"Rattoo will kill me, Tamao!"
"Where is Rattoo?"
"Look, he is just behind you!! He will kill you too!"
Tamao turned around. There was nothing. Before he could even turn back to Michiko, she had finished making a cut on her leg with a blade. It was bleeding heavily.
Tamao almost screamed on watching the blood. Michiko started to whine, crying out,
"Rattoo is drinking my blood! Rattoo is drinking my blood!" while the blade was still gripped between her own fingers.
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